County of Brant Council Minutes — February 22, 2022

Agenda

1. Delegation – Burford Agricultural Society Late Grant Submission
2. Adoption of Council Minutes – January 25, 2022
3. Business Arising from the Minutes – Economic Development and Official Plan Discussion
4. Consent Items to be Approved – Library Modernization RFID Project
5. Consent Items to be Received – Various Correspondence and Reports
6. Activities at 251 Bishopsgate Road
7. Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group – Membership Invitation
8. No Nuisance Noise Ontario (NNNO!) – Noise from Modified/Missing Mufflers
9. Planning and Development Committee Report – February 1, 2022
10. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – February 8, 2022
11. Administration and Operations Committee Report – February 15, 2022
12. Paramedic Services Committee Report – February 7, 2022
13. OPP Challenge Coin Initiative
14. Other Business – Biosolids, Revolving Door of Justice, and Official Plan Delay
15. In Camera Session – Litigation Matters
16. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Refer Burford Agricultural Society Billy Bash Demolition Derby grant application to Grants Committee	Passed	unanimous
2	Approve Library capital reserve fund access up to $35,000 for Library Modernization RFID Project	Passed	unanimous
3	Support Town of Ajax resolution on maximum decibel count for exhaust systems and circulate to Minister and MPP	Passed	unanimous
4	Approve Planning and Development Committee report of February 1, 2022 including ZBA approvals and telecom tower	Passed	unanimous
5	Approve Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee report of February 8, 2022 (river access, fireworks noise)	Passed	unanimous
6	Approve Administration and Operations Committee report of February 15, 2022 (elections, water tank, trucks, fees)	Passed	unanimous
7	Approve Paramedic Services Committee report of February 7, 2022 including $198,000 deposits on three replacement ambulances	Passed	unanimous
8	County of Brant Council support the PSB OPP Challenge Coin initiative	Passed	unanimous
9	Total cost to purchase the Brant OPP Challenge Coins be funded by the County of Brant	Passed	unanimous
10	Support City of Brantford January 25, 2022 resolution on revolving door of justice and become signatory	Passed	unanimous
11	Send letter to MPP Bouma and Minister of Municipal Affairs re: positive aspects of draft Official Plan and delay in Provincial response	Passed	unanimous
12	Approve Administration and Operations Committee In Camera Confidential report of February 15, 2022	Passed	unanimous

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Full Minutes

4. Delegation – Burford Agricultural Society Late Grant Submission

Chris Howell appeared on behalf of the Burford Agricultural Society to request that a late grant application be forwarded to the Grants Committee. The Society missed the submission deadline because they were waiting to confirm that Provincial COVID-19 regulations would allow their annual Billy Bash Demolition Derby event, scheduled for July 1–3, 2022. Council agreed to refer the application to the Grants Committee meeting on February 24, 2022.

5.1. Adoption of Council Minutes – January 25, 2022

Council formally approved the minutes from its previous meeting held on January 25, 2022.

6. Business Arising from the Minutes – Economic Development and Official Plan Discussion

Councillor Chambers raised concerns about language used in a previous motion regarding employment lands at 143 & 183 Bethel Road, questioning whether the stated rationale adequately reflected the County's planning priorities. He requested that staff prepare a report on how to encourage economic development opportunities that may not align with the current Official Plan, and that a policy discussion be held at a future committee meeting.

7.1. Consent Items to be Approved – Library Modernization RFID Project

Council approved up to $35,000 from the Library's capital reserve fund to support the Library Modernization Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Project, which will modernize how library materials are tracked and managed. Discussion also confirmed that the County's workplace vaccination policy definitions were consistent with Brant County Health Unit guidance.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received – Various Correspondence and Reports

Council received a number of informational items including communications from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, City of Brantford, Grand River Conservation Authority, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, Ombudsman Ontario, and others. Items related to activities at 251 Bishopsgate Road, the Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group membership invitation, and a noise complaint initiative were separated for individual discussion.

7.2.1. Activities at 251 Bishopsgate Road

Council discussed a significant increase in truck traffic delivering soil to a former aggregate pit at 251 Bishopsgate Road. Staff confirmed that soil transfer is regulated by the Province, but Council recommended that a letter be sent to the property owner requesting a contribution to road maintenance costs due to the increased wear and tear caused by heavy truck traffic.

7.2.12. Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group – Membership Invitation

The County received an invitation to join a Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group. Councillor Bell noted his opposition, characterizing the group as an anti-wind turbine organization. The item was received as information without the County committing to membership.

7.2.13. No Nuisance Noise Ontario (NNNO!) – Noise from Modified/Missing Mufflers

Council considered a request from No Nuisance Noise Ontario to support efforts to reduce loud exhaust noise from vehicles with modified or missing mufflers. Council voted to support a resolution from the Town of Ajax calling for maximum decibel limits on vehicle exhaust systems, increased penalties, and more OPP enforcement funding, and directed the resolution be forwarded to the provincial Minister of Transportation and local MPP.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – February 1, 2022

Council approved recommendations from the Planning and Development Committee covering several land use matters: approval of a telecommunications tower at 1 Albert Judge Drive, rezoning approvals for properties at 729 Mount Pleasant Road, 184 Highway #53, and 571 Mount Pleasant Road to enable severances and lot adjustments, and a county-wide housekeeping amendment to the Zoning By-law that also updated rules for shipping container structures.

8.2. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – February 8, 2022

Council approved two recommendations from this committee: directing staff to engage the public through the Engage Brant platform regarding a proposed 2022 River Access User Mitigation Strategy (RAUMS) to manage recreational river use, and directing staff to explore options for controlling and enforcing noise from fireworks.

8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – February 15, 2022

Council approved several significant operational decisions including awarding the 2022 election voting contract to Dominion Voting for $81,105, approving contracts totalling over $6.2 million for the construction of the South Paris Elevated Water Storage Tank, purchasing new road maintenance trucks and winter equipment totalling approximately $635,000, updating municipal fees for recreational programs and child care, and amending the Noise By-law to streamline how noise exemption applications are processed.

8.4. Paramedic Services Committee Report – February 7, 2022

Council approved recommendations from the Paramedic Services Committee including the appointment of Councillor Laferriere as Chair and City of Brantford Councillor Sless as Vice-Chair, receiving the 2022 budget and meeting schedule, and authorizing staff to place refundable deposits of $198,000 on three replacement ambulances scheduled for delivery in 2023.

11.1. OPP Challenge Coin Initiative

Councillor Peirce brought forward a request from the Brant County Police Services Board (PSB) to fund a commemorative Challenge Coin for Brant OPP members, designed to recognize service and build morale. Council first passed a resolution supporting the initiative and then voted to have the County of Brant cover the full cost of approximately $2,000 USD for 300 coins, rather than sharing the cost with the PSB.

12. Other Business – Biosolids, Revolving Door of Justice, and Official Plan Delay

Council addressed three matters under Other Business: Councillor Chambers raised public concerns about biosolid spreading and was directed to relevant staff contacts; Council voted to support a City of Brantford resolution calling for action on the 'revolving door of justice' in the criminal system; and Council voted to send a letter to the local MPP and Minister of Municipal Affairs expressing support for the new County of Brant Official Plan and disappointment with the Province's delayed review.

13. In Camera Session – Litigation Matters

Council moved into a closed (In Camera) session to discuss two matters involving potential litigation: a Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-law Amendment for 305 King Edward Street, and an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) appeal related to the Sifton development. Upon returning to open session, Council approved the confidential recommendations from the Administration and Operations Committee's In Camera report.

14. By-laws

Council gave three readings to fifteen by-laws, formally enacting decisions made during the meeting. These included appointing a Deputy Clerk and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers, zoning amendments for several properties, updates to the Noise By-law and Fees and Charges By-law, road dedication and closure by-laws, and the confirming by-law for the meeting.

This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.